The 1968 Exhibit

February 7 – May 10, 2015

It was the year that rocked history.

The 1968 Exhibit brings to life this pivotal American year through photographs, artifacts, vintage pop culture items and interactives. Explore the exhibit and see the events that changed Colorado and America forever.

In 1968, the death toll in the Vietnam War reached a new high. Riots and demonstrations raged across the country, Apollo 8 orbited the moon, and the nation was transformed by the tragic assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy. The 1960s also charted a dramatic road in America’s pop culture. It was in 1968 that Hair opened on Broadway, “Laugh-In” debuted on television and Johnny Cash gave his famous performance at Folsom Prison.

Developed by the Minnesota History Center, in partnership with the Atlanta History Center, the Chicago History Museum and the Oakland Museum of California, The 1968 Exhibit is an ambitious, multimedia experience that looks at how the events of the year have fueled a persistent, if often contradictory, sense of identity for the people who were there and those who came after.

What You’ll See

See the iconic purple jacket worn by rock legend Jimi Hendrix, Mr. Rogers’ sweater and sneakers, vintage album covers and musical equipment, and a talking Mrs. Beasley doll. Witness the reality of war with Vietnam-era artifacts such as a full-size Huey helicopter, a draft notice, helmets and other gear. View an actual program from Dr. King’s funeral service, and see a camera used to photograph Robert Kennedy the night he was shot.

What You Can Do

Three interactive lounges focus on the music, design, movies and TV that shaped a generation. While in the exhibit, you can cast a vote in the ’68 presidential election, listen to music by ’60s rock icons, and challenge friends to a 1960s trivia quiz about music and TV of the time.